Selling your home involves countless difficult decisions, and knowing which offer to accept is no exception. You might have asked yourself: What if the first offer is the best one? While achieving the highest possible price for your home is an important goal to keep in mind, there are several other factors that might come into play.

Here are some key considerations to help you make your decision.

Buying position

The term ‘buying position’ refers to the buyer's readiness to proceed with the sale. Therefore, factors such as being in a chain, having a mortgage agreement in principle, and being a cash buyer, all affect the buyer’s positioning. A first-time buyer, for example, might be in a great position to buy your house since they don’t have one to sell first.

If you’re hoping for a quick move with fewer complications, you should take buying position into consideration when comparing offers.

When the first offer comes in

The first offer is an important one for a multitude of reasons. You aren’t obligated to accept the first one that comes in (or any offers for that matter) but there may be circumstances in which you do accept the first offer made on your home. 

For example, if your home has been on the market for a long time without generating much interest, you might be more inclined to accept your first offer. Conversely, if you’re in need of a quick sale, you might accept the first offer in favour of waiting for more to come in. 

There are also some compelling reasons why you might not accept your first offer. For example, you might fear that the offer is too low and you could risk missing out on a better offer if you hold out. There’s no way to be certain of this, which is why it’s important to have an agent guiding you through these tough decisions.

What happens if I receive two or more offers on my home?

If your house draws in multiple offers, you could be well-positioned to sell it for a high price. If both offers are identical, you have two options:

1. You can accept the offer from the buyer who is in the best position to close the deal fast. This could be someone without a chain, or someone who has a mortgage deal in principle.
2. You can move to sealed bids. This is when your estate agent asks each party to put in writing the highest amount they are willing to pay for the property. The bids must then be sealed and sent back to your agent by a specified date.

Should I pick the highest offer?

Sometimes the highest offer is the right one to choose, after all, it makes logical sense to sell your home for the highest price possible. However, some sellers might choose a lower offer in favour of a better buying position. For example, a cash buyer might offer a lower amount in exchange for a less complicated sale. 

The same goes for first-time buyers, or those with a mortgage agreement in principle. If the seller places more value in a quick move, they might lean towards offers from these groups. 

Our experts aren’t here to tell you which offer to choose, but we can use our local market expertise and sharp negotiating skills to guide you towards the best outcome for your sale. Remember – it’s your home, so the choice is yours!

Summertime is a wonderful time of year and makes you feel good with a flow of endorphins. Blue-sky days, longer evenings with glorious sunsets, and warmer weather are perfect for enjoying your home’s outdoor spaces, carrying out property improvements, and moving. All of this and more makes this time of year one of the busiest for the UK rental market.  

Garden appeal  

A good garden is a big plus for landlords and tenants; at this time of year, a garden often looks at its best. Landlords and tenants can get on with making the most of their outdoor spaces. Whichever side of the fence you stand on - whether you are letting or renting - good garden features, make for happier homes and tenants. This is good for tenant-landlord relations and often leaves a little scope for creativity. Tenants can personalise their homes, while landlords can add value.  

A new term  

With a new academic year on the horizon, students are busy finding the right place, giving windows of opportunity to tenants and landlords. If your property is vacant over the summer months, it could be worthwhile looking into short term lets, or the time could be spent preparing the space for a new academic year. Many teachers and professionals working in education choose to move at this time of year, so it is definitely worth reviewing all of your options as a landlord.  

School holidays  

The summer holidays can make moving easier if you enlist the help of younger members of the family. And with no school run, less traffic, and perhaps less of a frantic rush to get everything done, it’s easier to move into your new property, and hopefully all under a shining sun. Letting a property and arranging viewings is also more straightforward for the same reasons, and any final adjustments and refreshes that landlords carry out, will make the property in question look its best in the summer light.  

Homes look radiant during the summer  

With more time to carry out maintenance and longer evenings for moving, properties look more beautiful during the summer. Brighter, lighter days make rooms appear larger, adding to a feeling of space. Moving belongings in favourable conditions, compared to cold, rainy days can make summer moves a speedier, more enjoyable process. Tenants who book viewings in the summer are able to see the property in its most favourable light.  

The market is bustling, so be quick  

Tenant inquiries typically go through the roof at this time of the year. This is good for landlords. But with the shortage of available homes to rent in the UK, it can be frustrating for tenants when it comes to finding the right home. However, it's not all bad news. With so many homes swapping occupants, a summer breeze of fresh properties appears. This will give tenants more choice. To make the most of this property-picking season, it’s best to be organised. Registering as early as possible with a good letting agent will allow them to email your potential next address. Regular catchups with your letting agent to get ahead with your home search can also help, as they may know about properties that are about to become available.